site.btaBulgarian Culture Minister Visits Berlin

Bulgarian Culture Minister Visits Berlin

Berlin/Sofia, October 18 (BTA) - Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov is on a brief working visit to Berlin, said his Ministry Tuesday. He met with Prof. Monika Grutters, State Minister for Culture and the Media, and discussed with her culture projects and bilateral cooperation.

Prof. Grutters congratulated Rashidov on Bulgaria's ambition to put together a memorable culture programme for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2018. She expressed the readiness of her country to share its experience from the EU Presidency.

Rashidov voiced support for an idea for organizing a concert of the European Union Youth Orchestra during the Bulgarian Presidency as a token of support for young talents.

Rashidov shared his idea to also put together during the Presidency of an exhibition of rescued European culture valuables. Prof. Grutters hailed the idea.

The two sides also agreed that Bulgaria and Germany should sign an agreement on combatting the illegal trafficking of culture valuables, building an integrated information system in this field and making it accessible for all interested institutions.

On August 6, Germany adopted a new law on cultural valuables which regulates clearly the import and export of such items. The new legislation will facilitate the return of close to 6,000 ancient coins and other small artefacts which were seized years ago by the German police and which are proven to have originated in Bulgaria. Their return to Bulgaria so far has been impeded by legal procedures and technicalities.

The German Minister accepted Rashidov's proposal that the two countries prepare an agreement on film coproductions to follow up on the cooperation which exists within the framework of EURIMAGES.